Edited by Vicky Begg for The Sports Counsel Blog

My client Cath Macneil has generously written this performance and event review for my blog. The event was the Derwentwater 3.6km Point-to-Point Swim at the Keswick Mountain Festival, sponsored by Aquasphere. Cath illustrates her dedication to improving, her resolve and commitment to achieving what at first seems unattainable and how one challenge links to the next. She completed the swim in 2 hours and 4 minutes. Cath plans to swim even further this summer. Thank you, Cath.

SETTING THE SCENE & PRE-EVENT PLANNING (that didn’t quite go to plan)

Friday 17^th May 2024. Today is the start of the Keswick Mountain Festival and we have chosen to stay home until lunchtime, packing and checking our bags prior to setting off for the 2 ¼ hour drive.  The mountain festival has so much happening it’s hard to envisage.  There are 17 different sporting events, from trail runs and triathlon, to swims and cycles.  We were heading for the 3.6km point-to-point swim (my longest swim to date) and the 72km sportive (my husband Richard’s consolation prize for spending the weekend following my dreams). There are also talks; 21 in total, music and product tents selling clothing, equipment, etc.  We planned to arrive early enough to listen to Louise Minchin, triathlon age-grouper, and TV presenter speaking; Louise was super interesting, such that I stopped and bought her book on the way out talking to her about our swim next morning (she too had entered the point-to-point event). 

Saturday morning arrived. I ate a light breakfast and headed to the Festival Village to get the ferry to the start line.  Swim folks are all different shapes, sizes and ages which is comforting.  Several, but not all, had tow-floats. One of the swimmers, a chap from Motherwell, said he thought they were compulsory but this wasn’t the case.  I am glad I had mine as I had practised swimming with it and accessing my snacks and water from it.  We boarded the ferry, heading to the other side of the lake. There was talk about our start jetty being out of commission the previous year, but that it ought to have been repaired.  Despite this being the case, we were dropped at the next jetty about a 20-minute walk away on scree paths!  I was glad of my swimming bootees on this occasion, those with bare feet struggled on the rough paths.  Finally, we assembled at the correct jetty, around 15-minutes late.  

THE SWIM & MY FEELINGS ABOUT IT 

I had chosen to swim in the first wave. I am a slow swimmer and I have previously felt guilty about the safety kayakers waiting for me to finish.  The first wave, including those doing the Keswick Conqueror (a mega split-triathlon over a couple of days) set off.  

I was nervous, but with Vicky’s help I had practised the distance and was comfortable that I could complete it. I had worked out my best possible and OK finish times, and considered possible disasters that might prevent me finishing.  My best outcome would be finishing in 2 hours. Potential disaster: getting cramp.  This has happened before resulting in being unceremoniously wheeched out of the water by two burly men.  Knowing how long I expected to take, I was able to check my watch and see if I was within range of my ideal finish time. The water was flat calm and the route a well-marked straight line; both features helping me towards my 2-hour goal. I had also taken training advice indicating that one reason I might get cramp was linked to hydration and nutrition.  That being the case, I had taken my favourite peanut butter snack to the start line and munched it down prior to entering the water.  At half-way I took a big drink of clean water from my water pouch stored in my tow-float.  That done and feeling a cramp coming on I used another technique Vicky had suggested; changing body position to vertical in the water for a few moments, allowing the blood to flow to my toes.  These both helped me pace myself and ensured I was calm and comfortable with my progress.

BEING PRESENT, PLANNING THE SWIM & DISTRIBUTING MY EFFORT

The scenery was amazing!  Apart from the splash of other swimmers, and nearby kayakers it was quiet and peaceful. The time passed quickly and before I knew it, I was past half-way and on my cool down 300m.  I split the distance up before starting, following a planned virtual pyramid.  This was suggested by another Glasgow Triathlon Club coach, Lorn Pearson, and psychologically I found it made the swim feel easier. For example, in the past knowing that I still had 1.5km to swim would have freaked me out (equivalent of just under half of the total distance). However, as part of the descent of a pyramid dividing the distance into smaller sections, it was do-able.  With only one brief moment swimming off-course near the shore (resulting in clambering over rocks to get back to the swimming channel and the finish line) I exited the water to find there were people still in the water; I was not last!  

A fab weekend made possible by fantastic weather, great event organisation, AND having trained, with the goal in mind, encountering and addressing the challenges along the way.